Systems and methods for promotion of electronic games

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods to administer and promote non-wagering entertainment games suitable for play on personal electronic devices and corresponding wager-based games available on electronic game machines within a regulated casino environment in a manner that permits users to earn benefits for play on one platform based on participation on the other platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for promoting play of an electronic game, the system comprising:
 A. (i) at least one first electronic device comprising one or more first device communication port(s) and operated by at least one first user, and (ii) at least one second electronic device comprising one or more second device communication port(s) and operated by at least one second user; and   B. at least one electronic game server comprising (i) one or more server communication port(s), and (ii) one or more downloadable application(s) compatible with said at least one first electronic device and said at least one second electronic device, said downloadable application(s) comprising one or more electronic games; wherein:   a. said at least one first electronic device is capable of:
 i) downloading at least one of said one or more applications compatible with said first electronic device from said at least one electronic game server via said one or more first device communication port(s) in data communication with said one or more server communication port(s); 
 ii) installing said at least one of said one or more downloaded applications comprising one or more electronic games; 
 iii) executing said at least one of said one or more installed applications and presenting said one or more electronic games to a first user; and 
 iv) communicating, from said at least one first electronic device to said at least one second electronic device, a promotional referral to at least one of said one or more downloaded applications; and wherein: 
   b. said second electronic device is capable of:
 i) using said communicated promotional referral to download at least one of said one or more downloadable applications compatible with said second electronic device via said one or more second device communication port(s) in data communication with said one or more server communication port(s); 
 ii) installing said at least one of said one or more downloaded applications comprising one or more electronic games; and 
 iii) executing said at least one of said one or more installed applications and presenting said one or more electronic games to a second user; 
   and wherein compensation is provided to said first device, to said first user, or to both of said first device and said first user in return for the communication of said promotional referral.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said promotional referral further comprises one or more benefit(s) or advantage(s) operable to transform said one or more electronic games presented to said second user on said second device from a first game play state to an enhanced second game play state. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said compensation comprises at least in part at least one of any of merchandise, tickets to entertainment events, hospitality considerations at gaming or non-gaming establishments, one or more additional game(s) or other applications compatible with a PED, complimentary play of wager-based EGM games, or one or more cash payment(s). 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said compensation comprises at least in part one or more benefit(s) or advantage(s) operable to transform the play of one or more electronic game(s) from a first game play state to an enhanced second game play state. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said compensation is based on (i) the promotional referral activity of said first user, (ii) either or both of the promotional referral activity or the game play activity of (a) said second user recipient(s) of said promotional referral(s), (b) users to whom said second user recipients provide promotional referral(s), or (c) said second user recipients and users to whom said second users provide promotional referral(s), or both (i) and (ii) above. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said promotional referral activity comprises the number of promotional referrals provided or the number of downloads performed as a result of promotional referrals provided to other users. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said game play activity comprises at least one of any of the number of times each game has been played, the duration of play, the number or desirability of any benefit(s) and advantage(s) received via promotional referral or awarded during play, or the results achieved during game play. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said compensation comprises an opportunity to modify the game from a first game play state to an alternative first game play state that can be made available to (i) said second user recipients of promotional referrals, (ii) users to whom said second users provide promotional referrals, or (iii) said second users and said users to whom said second users provide promotional referrals. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein identification information pertaining to said first device, said first user, or said first device and said first user is associated with downloads of said at least one of said one or more applications performed by said second device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said promotional referral is communicated from said at least one first electronic device to said at least one second electronic device via said at least one electronic game server. 
     
     
         11 . A method of promoting play of an electronic game, the method comprising:
 A. on a first electronic device, downloading, installing and executing at least one electronic game by a first user;   B. communicating, by said first user, a promotional referral for said at least one electronic game to a second user operating a second electronic device;   C. on said second electronic device, downloading, installing and executing said at least one electronic game by said second user;   D. associating either or both of said promotional referral and said second electronic device download with said first user; and   E. providing compensation to said first user for either or both of said promotional referral and said second electronic device download.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said promotional referral comprises one or more benefit(s) or advantage(s) operable to transform said at least one electronic game presented to said second user on said second device from a first game play state to an enhanced second game play state. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said compensation comprises at least in part at least one of any of merchandise, tickets to entertainment events, hospitality considerations at gaming or non-gaming establishments, one or more additional game(s) or other applications compatible with a PED, complimentary play of wager-based EGM games, or one or more cash payment(s). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said compensation comprises at least in part one or more benefit(s) or advantage(s) operable to transform the play of one or more electronic game(s) from a first game play state to an enhanced second game play state. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said compensation is based on (i) the promotional referral activity of said first user, (ii) either or both of the promotional referral activity or the game play activity of (a) said second user recipient(s) of said promotional referral(s), (b) users to whom said second user recipients provide promotional referral(s), or (c) said second user recipients and users to whom said second users provide promotional referral(s), or both (i) and (ii) above. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said promotional referral activity comprises the number of promotional referrals provided to other users or the number of downloads performed as a result of said promotional referrals. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said game play activity comprises at least one of any of the number of times each game has been played, the duration of play, the number or desirability of any benefit(s) and advantage(s) received via promotional referral or awarded during play, or the results achieved during game play. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said compensation comprises an opportunity to modify the game from a first game play state to an alternative first game play state that can be made available to (i) said second user recipients of said promotional referrals, (ii) users to whom said second user recipients provide promotional referrals, or (iii) said second user recipients and users to whom said second user recipients provide promotional referrals. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identification information pertaining to said first device, said first user, or said first device and said first user is associated with the downloads of at least one of said one or more applications performed by said second device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said promotional referral is communicated from said at least one first electronic device to said at least one second electronic device via at least one electronic game server.